Alexandre feebon



(NuModel.)

A PBRRON. MACHINE FOR GRUSHING AND DISINTEGRATING SUGAR G .m l N Al, m w m l Tm j@ 1w Lm L. t. A anV +u M M W. AMT m m cylinders.

UNITED v'Sfi'vrrns PATENT OFFICE. Y

ALEXANDRE FERRON, OF PARIS, FRANCE, ASSIGNOR `rIO HIMSELF AND SOCIT ANONYME DES ANCIENS ETABLISSEMENTS CAIL, OF SAME PLACE.

MACHINE FOR CRUSHING AND DISINTEGBATING SUGAR-CANE.

lSPEC*IFICATION forming` part of Letters Patent No. 279,235, dated June 12, 1883.

Application filed h lnrch 1Q, 1883. (No model.) Patented in France September I9, 1881, No. 144,909.

T0 all whom it may concern:

Beit known that I, ALEXANDRE FERRON, of Paris, in the Republic of France, have in` vented a new and useful Machine for Crush-l ing and Disintegrating Sugar-Cane and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same.

My invention consists in anew crushing and disintegrcting machine for sugarcane, intended to be placed infront of the`cane-mill in such manner that the cane is compelled to pass through it before arriving between the rollers of the mill. rlhis apparatus, composed oi' two rotary cylinders with sharp-edged helicoidal flutings, receives the whole length of the cane in a direction normal to the straight genera trices of the cylinders, which, by their rotary movement, crush in some degree, and atthe same time split, the cane throughout the whole length, and in a direction presenting the form of a helix more or less elongated, `according to the differences of the speeds of rotation ofthe By thus reducing the cane the motive power necessary for crushing it in the mill will be considerably diminished, at the same time that the extraction of the juice will be facilitated and the product will be increased.

Figure l in the drawings is a side elevation of the-apparatus. Fig. 2 isa plan. Fig. 3 is a front elevation. Figs. 4 and 5 represent in axial profile, on a larger scale, the form and arrangement ot`the threads or 'iintings ot' the two' cylinders.

Similar letters oi' reference indicate like parts.

'The apparatus is composed, essentially, of two cylinders, C G, oi' cast-iron, bronze, or caststeel, which preferably have the same length as that of the crushing-rollers of the millv with which the apparatus is intended to operate. These cylinders, which are parallel with each other and at ashort distance apart, are threaded or iiuted throughout their whole length, the threads or flutes presenting the forms and arrangements represented full size, Figs. 4 and 5. It willbe seen by reference to the latter figures that the rectangular triangular sectional forms of these threads or ilntings are arranged in contrary directions on the two cylinders in such manner that by the rotation of the cylinders these threads or iiutings present a series of sh arp edged helicoidal blades, which will have a somewhat shearingoperation, by which operation the canes passing between the cylinders will be split throughout their whole length in straight or helical directions, according as the speeds of rotation of the two cylinders are equal or unequal. in the drawings the cylinders C C are furnished on half their length with a series oi' threads or spiral fillets having a right-hand pitch, and on the other half with a series of threads or iillets having a left-hand pitch. These two series are separated by a groove intended to receive a separatingpartition, which keeps the sugar-canes upon the proper helicoidal threads or flut-ings of the apparatus. The right or left hand threads of each cylinder are opposite corresponding threads on the other cylinder.

The cylinders C arey furnished at their extremities with journals turning in boxes in the side frame, A, and are geared together by pinions l? l?, which maybe of equal or different diameters, according tothe angle at which the canes are desired to be split by the cuttingedges ol" the threads or iiutings oi` the cylin-l ders.

One et' the cylinders is Vfurnished with a large spur-wheel, B, gearing with a smaller spur In the example represented wheel or pinion, D, ontheshat'tE of themotor.

In front of the machine is arranged an endless-chain cane-feeder, F, (like those commonly employed ina sugar-mnh) for feeding the cane to the cylinders (l C', which are representedin the drawings as arranged in i'ront of tlieordinary sugar-mill, H, between which and the saidV cylinders isarranged an inclined plane, G, along which the cane, after having been split and disintegrated by the said cylinders, passes to the mill.

I am aware of British Letters Patent No. 8,731, dated December 2, 1840, and I do not claim anything shown therein as of my invention. Said Letters Patent show cylinders between which the cane passes on its way to the cane-mill, and which have spiral grooves, like screw-threads, for the purpose of spreading the cane laterally before it enters the mill, and thereby presenting it uniformly to the crushing-rollers throughout their length. Said Letters Patent also describe atable having diverging grooves or gutters which aid in spreading the cane 5 and it is also described that such a grooved or guttered table may be used with plaiirsurtaced rollers or cylinders. The itunetion ot' the cylinders in said Letters Patent is not to split the cane, and it is not stated therein that they accomplish such a purpose. My screw-threads are sharp-edged, so that they have a shearing' action upon the cane and split itl lengthwise. rilheir function is not to spread the cane laterally. l'n the apparatus shown in the aforesaid Letters Patent, if the right orlett hand grooves ot' each cylinder were opposite corresponding grooves in the other cylinder, as described by me, and it' the cylinders were then rotated in opposite directions, the cylinn ders would not have the spreading action described in the aforesaid Letters Patent.

Vhat I claim as my invention isd l. rPhe combination, in a machine for pre` paring sugar-cane t'or the cane-mill, of two '.eylinders, between which the cane passes before it reaches the cane-mill, and which are provided With helicoidal sharp-edged threads, which operate on the cane with a shearing action, thereby splitting it lengthwise, and to some extent crushing it before it enters the cane-mill, substantially asherein described.

2. The combination, in a machine for preparing sugar-cane for the cane-mill, of two cylinders geared to rotate in opposite directions, between whioh the cane passes before it reaches the cane-mill, and which are provided with helicoidal sharp-edged threads, which operate upon the cane Witha shearing action,

thereby splitting it throughout its length, and 4o to some extent crushing it before it enters the cane-mill, the right .or left hand threads of each cylinder being opposite corresponding threads on the other cylinder, substantially as and for the purpose herein described.

This specication signed this 24th day ot' January, 1883.

ALEXANDRE FER-RON. Vitnesses:

EUG. Donut., CRMERS. 

